Are there any specials? Or maybe usual services (e.g Vespers) are more frequent? I wonder also how is it in OO Churches

As for EO, know that there is a Greek tradition of forty Liturgies, an Advent Paraklesis in the Antiochian Church, and that in some parishes during the week it's sung “alleluia” instead of “God is the Lord” (in the same way as it's done in Great Lent). I wonder if any of these services/liturgical changes are common?

As for OO, I know of course about Kiahk in Coptic church (Kiahk praises). And I know that in Syriac Orthodox Church each Sunday of Advent has special name and hymns.

I can say that in Polish Orthodox Church there is only one thing special: “goveniya” (or “rekolekcje”) – 2 or 3 days of spiritual teachings given by one priest (can be from the parish, but also a guest) plus confessions done during the All-Night Vigil plus penance and before Eucharist prayers that on the last day of “rekolekcje” most of people go to the Holy Communion. If I'm not mistaken, something like that exists also among Ukrainians (I know at least Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church does it)?

And of course, since the feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos, katabasias of the Nativity Canon are chanted constantly

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Oh, and the visit from St. Nicholas, with the food drive and the reenactment of Arius.

« Last Edit: December 04, 2012, 10:05:35 AM by ialmisry »

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they do the parakleisis and the akathist (to xc) every wed. and fri., respectively, around here. it's an old custom.

That's great!

I've asked because I had known before my official conversion to Orthodoxy that this period of the Nativity Fast generally does not differ so much comparing with usual period as it's in Latin Tradition and it was one of the reasons to wait for conversion. That's why in some way this fast is the most difficult one. I'm also very interested in liturgics and I think the liturgical practices of this fast are most variable in various jurisdictions (traditions) comparing with other fasting periods.

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The one parish that is attached to my family's parish.. the priest takes a baby Jesus infant doll and has the church process around with him and they go up the centre ailse and he puts the baby Jesus infant doll on the altar. It's the priest's own made up practice which comes from pre-vatican 2 latin rite mass Nativity where the priest does this before sung low mass/high mass.

The one parish that is attached to my family's parish.. the priest takes a baby Jesus infant doll and has the church process around with him and they go up the centre ailse and he puts the baby Jesus infant doll on the altar. It's the priest's own made up practice which comes from pre-vatican 2 latin rite mass Nativity where the priest does this before sung low mass/high mass.

LOL

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The one parish that is attached to my family's parish.. the priest takes a baby Jesus infant doll and has the church process around with him and they go up the centre ailse and he puts the baby Jesus infant doll on the altar. It's the priest's own made up practice which comes from pre-vatican 2 latin rite mass Nativity where the priest does this before sung low mass/high mass.

If it was done with an icon of the Nativity, it wouldn't surprise me. But how they can venerate (because in some way it's veneration) doll?! BTW, in my ex-Roman Catholic parish they still doing it.

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The one parish that is attached to my family's parish.. the priest takes a baby Jesus infant doll and has the church process around with him and they go up the centre ailse and he puts the baby Jesus infant doll on the altar. It's the priest's own made up practice which comes from pre-vatican 2 latin rite mass Nativity where the priest does this before sung low mass/high mass.

If it was done with an icon of the Nativity, it wouldn't surprise me. But how they can venerate (because in some way it's veneration) doll?! BTW, in my ex-Roman Catholic parish they still doing it.

The one parish that is attached to my family's parish.. the priest takes a baby Jesus infant doll and has the church process around with him and they go up the centre ailse and he puts the baby Jesus infant doll on the altar. It's the priest's own made up practice which comes from pre-vatican 2 latin rite mass Nativity where the priest does this before sung low mass/high mass.

If it was done with an icon of the Nativity, it wouldn't surprise me. But how they can venerate (because in some way it's veneration) doll?! BTW, in my ex-Roman Catholic parish they still doing it.

He teaches what he knows, Roman Catholicism. And I am not joking. Just because you are a priest in the Orthodox Church doesn't mean you went to seminary. Also at the family parish he makes up litany petitions. He adds words to proper litanies. At the other parish he serves they don't sing the Only Begotten Son etc... At family parish they don't sing the tropar and kondak. Someone reads it now. I can on if you wish.

He teaches what he knows, Roman Catholicism. And I am not joking. Just because you are a priest in the Orthodox Church doesn't mean you went to seminary. Also at the family parish he makes up litany petitions. He adds words to proper litanies. At the other parish he serves they don't sing the Only Begotten Son etc... At family parish they don't sing the tropar and kondak. Someone reads it now. I can on if you wish.

again. I don't believe people accept it so easily, that nobody go over him to talk about it, to tell it's wrong. For sure if not all, the vast majority is aware of the fact some things are shortened and some added, so why nobody writes petition to the bishop? The omittion of the Only Begotten Son, troparions and kontakions is really serious issue.

I can say more: unfortunately, even if Orthodox priest had graduated from seminary, it does not mean he is aware of many liturgical aspects

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